U.S. 281-Loop 1604 closures cause backup Saturday

U.S. 281 main-lane closures created major backups Saturday night, as part of ongoing construction of an interchange at Loop1604.

Northbound U.S. 281, from Donella to Sonterra Boulevard, closed between 4 a.m. and 9 p.m. on Saturday while crews remove surface asphalt from the road.

Traffic must exit Donella and then follow detour signs back to U.S.281.

Construction work forced closure of the Loop 1604 westbound frontage lanes, from Gold Canyon to the entrance ramp east of Stone Oak, from 4 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday. At least one lane will remain open, according to a news release from the Alamo Regional Mobility Authority, the agency building theinterchange.

Motorists on Saturday reported a traffic standstill at around 6 p.m. Saturday. The lane shutdown will continue Sunday.

Construction on the U.S. 281-Loop 1604 interchange started in March 2011; two of the direct connectors, joining northbound U.S. 281 to Loop 1604 east and west, opened last month. The remaining two connectors should open no later than February.